Which is the most popular engine in the BMW 1 Series?

The older 118d diesel powertrain has been among the most popular, but it isn't available in the newer models. This diesel engine had a good balance of value and power, rated at 148bhp. The most popular petrol engine is the 118i, likely because it's the entry level in the lineup, making it the most affordable to buy.

Which are the most popular trim levels?

The new 1 Series comes in five trims: SE, Sport, 128ti, M Sport and M135i. The M Sport is among the most popular in the used market because of its upgraded performance and styling features, including upgraded suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and special 'M' trim detailing.

Is the BMW 1 Series a good family car?

Even though it's a compact hatchback, the BMW 1 Series is a good car for families. While it can be tight for adults in the rear seat, there's plenty of room for children, and ISOFIX points are included for child seats.

Is there a hybrid version of the BMW 1 Series?

BMW hasn't fitted a hybrid powertrain to the 1 Series yet. It has only been offered with traditional petrol and diesel engines.

Is the BMW 1 Series available as an automatic?

The 1 Series has been available as an automatic and with a manual gearbox. Both of these are popular among the used models, so it should be easy for customers to find the example that suits their needs.

Is there a four-wheel drive version available?

The BMW 1 Series started as a rear-wheel drive car. It was later reconfigured to have front-wheel drive as standard. The top specification M135i is equipped with all-wheel drive, as are some variants of the 120d. Look out for cars badged as xDrive - this is the name of BMW's all-wheel drive system.

2,594 Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale

BMW 1 Series2009 (09) - 116d Sport 5dr

£1,795

2L
159.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

AR Cars

01254947703 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d Sport Hatchback 3dr Diesel Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (116 ps)

£6,400

Finance available £121 pm

1.5L
95.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

S & J Cars and Commercials

01353883787 *

BMW 1 Series2023 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP]

Low Mileage

£24,998

1.5L
8.6K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Arnold Clark Vauxhall (Stirling)

01786232223 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2021 - 1.5 118i M Sport (LCP) Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

Low Mileage

£20,895

Finance available £454 pm

1.5L
17.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Carbase - Weston

01934313340 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2013 (13) - 3.0 M135i Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£10,495

Finance available £212 pm

3L
77.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Carplex Ltd

01323396590 *

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 116d ED Plus 5-Door

£5,199

Finance available £94 pm

1.5L
95.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

CARVIEWS LTD

01217288890 *

BMW 1 Series2024 (74) - M135i xDrive 5-Door

Reduced

£31,564

2L
2.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Stephen James Enfield BMW

02038730440 *

BMW 1 Series2018 - 120i [2.0] M Sport 5dr [Nav/Servotronic] Step Auto

Reduced

£14,519

Finance available £302 pm

2L
58.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

David Hayton Ltd (Mazda Carlisle)

01228273252 *

BMW 1 Series2012 - 120d SE 5dr Warranty

Reduced

£3,295

Finance available £51 pm

2L
133.5K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Speedway Garage Gunness Limited

01724514211 *

BMW 1 Series2022 - 118i [136] M Sport 5dr Step Auto [LCP] Automatic

£21,440

Finance available £420 pm

1.5L
25.7K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

D M Keith Select Ossett

01924667079 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2016 - 1.5 118i M Sport Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,500

Finance available £190 pm

1.5L
59.4K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

MIDLANDS AUTOHAUS LIMITED

01164646024 *

BMW 1 Series2015 - 116d Sport 5dr

Low Mileage

£9,395

Finance available £188 pm

1.5L
53.3K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Campbell Trade Sales

02890023194 *

BMW 1 Series2016 (16) - 1.5 116d M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£13,450

Finance available £278 pm

1.5L
33.9K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Hatchback

Car Planet Watford

01923927636 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2010 - 3.0 135i M Sport Convertible 2dr Petrol DCT Euro 5 (306 ps)

Low Mileage

£6,629

3L
96.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Convertible

Carbase - Bristol

01172331396 *

4.8/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2008 (58) - 118D EDITION ES 5-Door

Reduced

£3,699

Finance available £60 pm

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Hatchback

Bexhill Motors Dorset Road

01424230370 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2019 (69) - 1.5 118i Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (140 ps) FSH X7!

£12,495

1.5L
93.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

Motor Trust UK Bury

01612416386 *

BMW 1 Series2015 (15) - 3.0 M135i Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 3dr

£9,445

Finance available £189 pm

3L
133.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Hatchback

AHC CAR SALES LTD

01135123659 *

BMW 1 Series2018 (18) - 118i [1.5] Sport 5dr [Nav]

Low Mileage

£9,990

Finance available £201 pm

1.5L
58.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

Ben Wild Motors

01244569204 *

5/5 Stars

BMW 1 Series2004 (04) - 1.6 116i ES Euro 4 5dr

Low Mileage

£1,950

1.6L
102.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Hatchback

TCS

01706586848 *

BMW 1 Series2024 - 128ti 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Professional]

£28,354

2L
12.0K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Hatchback

Marshall Jaguar Oxford (Milton Gate)

01235420019 *

Why buy a used BMW 1 Series?

If you're in the market for a car that's practical, fun to drive and stylish, then a used BMW 1 Series is a fantastic choice. With BMW build quality, a used 1 Series provides luxury motoring at an affordable price. The interior offers supportive seating, high-tech features and upscale materials that provide a refined driving experience.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros

Economical diesels
Fun to drive
Excellent build quality

Cons

Lack of hybrid/electric model
Limited cabin and boot space
Firm ride

Read our BMW 1 Series review

BMW 1 Series video review

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Used BMW 1 Series buying guide

Engines and transmissions

The BMW 1 Series has been available with petrol and diesel engines, a manual or an automatic gearbox, and rear, front or four-wheel drive.

Petrol

1.5-litre 118i produces 134bhp for a 0-60mph time of 8.6 seconds and an efficiency rating of up to 49.6mpg. This is the most popular engine.
2.0-litre 128ti boosts the output to 261bhp, giving it a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds and an efficiency rating of 40.9mpg.
3.0-litre M135i tops the range with 315bhp and a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds, but the efficiency drops to 35mpg.

Diesel

1.5-litre 116d makes 114bhp for a 10-second 0-60mph time and a rating of up to 62.8mpg.
2.0-litre 120d outputs 187bhp to reduce the 0-62mph time to 7.3 seconds, while still maintaining efficiency of up to 57.6mpg.
Older 118d creates 147bhp and was one of the most popular options.

Practicality

Despite being a compact car, the 1 Series hatchback provides a surprising amount of room, making it practical for everyday driving.

Interior space

Front seats are supportive and offer a lot of room.
Rear seats can be tight for adults on long drives.
ISOFIX mounting points for child seats are easy to access.

Boot space

380-litre boot compares with the Audi A3.
Folding the rear seats down opens up 1,200 litres of room.
Available 40:20:40 split folding seats allow for the middle seat to be folded independently.

Bodystyles

Five-door hatchback has been the main body style since its introduction.
Three-door hatchback was discontinued after the second generation.
Two-door coupé was available for part of the first generation, later joining the 2 Series lineup.
Two-door convertible was only available during the first generation, but later became part of the 2 Series lineup.

Safety

Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating given in 2019.
87% rating for child occupant and an 83% adult occupant rating.
Standard safety kit includes parking sensors (front and rear), cruise control and LED headlights.

Technology

10.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional driver display matches the 3 Series.
Larger 10.3-inch infotainment system display replaced the smaller 8.8-inch model.
Available wireless device charging.

Buying a used car checklist: what to look for

Buying a used car can be a daunting task, but with our checklist, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

View guides

* Telephone numbers starting with 084X or 087X will cost you up to 13p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge. Calls to other telephone numbers will only cost your phone company's access charge.

Used BMW 1 Series snapshot review

Pros